News Releases - Underground Storage Tanks

PHILADELPHIA (October 31, 2007) – TravelCenters of America and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have resolved underground storage tank (UST) violations at the company’s facility located at 5501 O’Donnell Street Cut-off, Baltimore, Md. EPA alleged that the company had failed to implement required safeguards to detect and prevent leaks from underground tanks.

TravelCenters of America will pay a $6,500 penalty for failing to perform continuous corrosion protection on five 30,000-gallon tanks and two 12,000-gallon tanks; and to inspect the tanks every 60 days to ensure that the equipment was running properly. As part of the settlement, TravelCenters of America will have a tank corrosion expert conduct an internal inspection of its tanks to determine if they are structurally sound. Depending on the results of the inspection, TravelCenters will take additional measures, which may include tank closure or repair of the tanks’ corrosion protection system.

The alleged violations occurred between April 15, 2005 and Oct. 26, 2006. As part of the settlement, the company did not admit or deny the violations.

With millions of gallons of gasoline, oil and other petroleum products stored in underground storage tanks throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks which do occur, thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups.